Virginia birder Rich Rieger asked me to post here a message on the 
above subject that he posted on VA-bird recently, together with a 
response he received from the Maryland State DNR (which was the 
agency to which he sent his query):

***folks - I'm a VA bird-watcher and last week, while watching ducks in the
Potomac, south of the Woodrow Wilson bridge, I saw some duck hunters motor
toward a Black Duck sitting on the water. When it flushed, they shot it and
injured it. They then motored to where it had fallen and finished it off...

I am assuming that this was an illegal manuver. What little I know of duck
hunting in the Potomac is that floating blinds must be anchored.
Unfortunately, the registration # of the boat was covered by sticks 
and twigs, and I am
assuming that this is also illegal...do those #'s need to be visible 
at all times?

I have since loaded the # of the natural resource police for Charles and
Prince George's Co. (as found on your website)  on my cell phone. Is the
best course of action to call this number if I see a violation?***

HERE IS THE RESPONSE FROM MD DNR

***You are correct on all counts.  If you observe this activity in the
future, please call immediately.  Her are some additional numbers for you:

Southern Region Office: (301) 645-0062
Tawes Communication Center: (410) 260-8888 (emergency);
                                                               (410) 
260-8940 Non-emergency


transmitted by Mike Bowen, Bethesda, MD



D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: